pantsfarm

Somebody recalled the book [tag]Why?[/tag] by Charles Tilly a day or two ago and I didn’t think I’d get back from Philadelphia in time to return it without incurring some fees, so I decided to read it that day. It’s a pretty interesting book about interactions between people and the reasons they give for the things that they do and that happen. Anyhow, here are a couple random [tag]quotes[/tag]. As it happens, it seems I’ve selected a couple quotes that were actually quotes of other texts, but, whatever.

“See, how can you do that? Somehow you cannot idolize a place like this. How come I can’t? You’ve been here one day, and you can see into the shadows better than I do after three months.”
“I just don’t want you to lose track of why you came here.”
“God, I wish I had your sincerity. Really. You’re like Gary Cooper.”
“Don’t idolize me now.”
Another pause. “How do I do it?” he asked.
“Not lose track?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t live for their approval. Don’t live for anyone’s approval.”
“Everyone wants approval.”
“That’s just argumentative.”
“They do!”
“Sure they do. But you can take a break from it. Not forever, but a while.” (Bronson 2002: 134)

…

In this sophisticated passage, nevertheless we discover a powerful story with Aristotelian overtones: people are treating me tenderly because they fear hurting me. Doing so, they are hurting me.

…

Eventually the focus of his story shifted:
But after months of insecurity, depression, and shaking fear, the economic causes of his personal problems began to fade from view. All David could think about was, What is wrong with me? Why does’t anyone call me? What have I done wrong He would spend hours bent over his desk, rubbing his forehead, puffing on his pipe, examining his innermost charater, wondernig whether this or that personality flaw was holding him back. Could people tell that he was anxious? Were people avoiding him on the street because they couldn’t stand to come face to face with desperation? Was he offending potential employers, coming on too strong? With failure closing in from all directions the answer came back “It must be me.” The ups and downs of the computer industry and the national economy were forgotten. David’s character took center stage as the villain in his own downfall. (Newman 1988: 6-7)

These quotes don’t really have so much to do with why I found it an interesting read though. Don’t get me wrong, I mean, I just related a bit.